TheNewsGuru

Tag: Falana

  • Alleged assault: Falana, Jibrin, Aisha Yesufu demand sack, prosecution of CCT Chairman

    Alleged assault: Falana, Jibrin, Aisha Yesufu demand sack, prosecution of CCT Chairman

    Eminent Nigerians have condemned the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Umar Danladi for physically assaulting a security guard at Banex Plaza in Wuse, Abuja.

    They also called for his immediate dismissal and prosecution by the Nigerian government.

    Recall TheNewsGuru (TNG) reported how Mr Umar was caught in a viral video clip kicking and slapping a security guard.

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has tasked the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to take an action on the assault allegation leveled against Danladi Umar.

    He made this suggestion while speaking at a webinar orgainsed by the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC). He urged the NBA to take the matter seriously.

    Falana said, “Just last night, and this is in the social media now, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal was fighting in the market,”

    He added, “He (Mr Umar) slapped the security man in the market, and this has been shown to the whole world. The NBA must take this matter very seriously.”

    Speaking on Umar’s shameful act, Professor Ibrahim Jibrin, who is highly revered in the northern academia space, unequivocally demanded for the immediate sack of the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Jibrin made the call on Wednesday in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @JibrinIbrahim17.

    According to the Prof. the CCT Chairman lack decorum and doesn’t deserve the highly revered post of a CCT Chairman.

    Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim was a member of the Electoral Reform Committee during the administration of former President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. He has observed elections in Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Togo, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Guinea for the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    Similarly, Nigerian Socio-Political activist, and Co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, Aisha Yesufu, demanded Umar’s sack over the ‘Biafran Boys’ tag labelled on his victim of assault by his media aide.

    Responding on Wednesday in a video posted on Twitter, Aisha said Danladi did not have “the neutrality to manage that position”.

    “What the heck is going on? I mean all of this nonsense have to stop. That man should either be made to resign, be sacked or whatever! If he can think of a group of people and label them Biafran boys then he doesn’t have the neutrality to manage that position.

    “I am absolutely shocked. Did the chairman of the CCT Justice Danladi Umar just referred to people as Biafran boys? Really? What?

    “What a freaking hell is going on in Nigeria. In his mental mind, in his thoughts, he refers to people as Biafran Boys. Yet he has the guts to also put it in black and white. Oh my goodness!!!

    “There is so much and absolute disrespect in the country from charlatans, hooligans – a let my people go mentality. If it was based on merit and the same capacity that is used for everyone when they are entering primary, secondary schools and all of that.

    “You have cut off marks, some people have 4 or 6 or whatever, if it was based on competence that employment was being given, would he have been the justice of the code of conduct tribunal?

    “When he cannot even conduct himself in public. He assaulted someone, and then he comes to make a statement and then on that statement he poured petrol on fire,” she said.

    In an official statement released by his spokesman on Tuesday, Danladi’s camp alleged that the security man was rude and had threatened the CCT Chairman.

  • How FG frustrated Ibori’s trial in UK – Falana

    How FG frustrated Ibori’s trial in UK – Falana

    Popular human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) on Sunday said the Federal Government earlier frustrated the trial of former Governor, James Ibori, in the United Kingdom.

    The rights advocate alleged that the Nigerian Government through its Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, challenged the investigation of Ibori in the United Kingdom in 2009.

    According to Falana’s statement titled ‘How FG Frustrated Ibori’s Trial in the UK’, the senior legal practitioner said a government that challenged the former governor’s investigation should not readily claim ownership of the funds recovered.

    Falana in his communique noted that Aondoakaa had said the UK’s decision to probe Ibori was an insult to Nigeria’s sovereignty.

    The SAN further wondered why President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to use General Sani Abacha’s loot to implement projects even though he (Buhari) has consistently said that the former Head of State never stole from the nation’s coffers.

    The rights advocate went on to argue that the Delta State Government could not be denied the billions recovered from its former Governor, James Ibori, just because the state government once said Ibori never stole.

    Below is the full communique as published by Mr Femi Falana, the Interim Chair, Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB).

    In opposing my position on the legitimate right of the people of Delta State to the sun of £4.2 million confiscated and recovered from the Ibori loot some colleagues have argued that the fund should be forfeited to the Federal Government on the ground that the Uduagban regime had said that no money was missing from the coffers of the State Government. No doubt, the former Delta State Government had denied any loss of money during the proceedings of the Federal High Court for the confiscation of the $15 million bribe given to Mr. Nuhu Ribadu by Chief James Ibori. Hence, the presiding judge, Kolawole J. (now JCA) directed that the fund be paid into the Federation Account for distribution in line with the provisions of the Revenue Allocation Act. But the Delta State Government never said that the over £100 million confiscated from Chief Ibori in the London trial did not belong to the people of Delta State.

    However, it is on record that the Federal Government openly opposed the trial of Chief Ibori in the United Kingdom. In fact, in utter breach of the provisions of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Nigeria and the United Kingdom the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Aondoakaa SAN rejected the request to make relevant documents available for the trial in the United Kingdom on the ground of sovereignty. In particular, Chief Aondoakaar refused to entertain the request of the UK Metropolitan Police and made under bilateral mutual assistance to Nigeria on the ground that the request was not made by the Home Office.

    The request was to question Chief Ibori about his involvement in corruption and money laundering that occurred in the United Kingdom. Aondoakaa said: “I think Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, deserves some respect. They [the Metropolitan Police] knew they were wrong, otherwise why did they now write through the Home Office requesting mutual assistance to quiz a prominent Nigerian. … I cannot compromise the sovereignty of this country, if they make incompetent requests I will turn them down 20 times. Any request from Metropolitan Police would be refused by this office, period.” [See Kolawole Olaniyan, Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa, Oxford: Hart, 2014, p 15]. Dr. Olaniyan criticised the use of “Sovereignty, technicalities, and ‘small details’” as justifications for refusing requests for mutual cooperation and assistance in cases of corruption involving high-ranking state officials.

    Similarly, African representatives who participated in the negotiation of the UNCAC insisted that any reference to protection of sovereignty should not be interpreted in a way that would undermine the efforts of countries seeking to recover illicit assets. Article 51 of UNCAC on asset-recovery explicitly states that the return of stolen assets is “a fundamental principle of the Convention.” The effectiveness of the asset recovery provisions of UNCAC depends to a large extent on the measures for mutual legal assistance. Thus, states are required to establish a legal framework to enable them to provide assistance to other states in the recovery of assets acquired through corrupt practices recognised under the convention. To ensure effective international cooperation in the fight against corruption and money laundering, the UNCAC in article 60 requires states “to consider” various potential methods to provide technical assistance to each other in their plans and programs to prevent and combat corruption.

    As far as international law is concerned the recovered fund belongs to the people of Delta State who are the victims of the corrupt practice of Chief Ibori. Having ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) both Nigeria and the United Kingdom are bound by Article 35 thereof which states that:”Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with principles of its domestic law, to ensure that entities or persons who have suffered damage as a result of an act of corruption have the right to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for that damage in order to obtain compensation.”

    The British Government is releasing the stolen money to Nigeria in strict compliance with international law and not out sheer generosity as erroneously argued by some lawyers. According to the travaux préparatoires to the UNCAC, “this article is intended to establish the principle that States Parties should ensure that they have mechanisms permitting persons or entities suffering damage to initiate legal proceedings, in appropriate circumstances, against those who commit acts of corruption.” Notably, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan aptly captured the growing international community’s concern with corruption and its negative impact on human rights during the 2003 adoption by the General Assembly of UNCAC when he said: “Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies. Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a Government’s ability to provide basic services.”

    From the foregoing, it is undoubtedly clear that the huge success recorded in the prosecution of the case was anchored on the collaboration between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Metropolitan Police. To that extent, the Federal Government which had set out to frustrate the trial of Chief Ibori cannot turn round to lay claim to the fund confiscated on the orders of the British courts. Having regards to the facts and circumstances of the case the the Ibori loot belongs to the people of Delta State in toto under domestic and international law. After all, the Federal Government had handed over the fund stolen by two former governors, in similar circumstances, to the people of Bayelsa and Plateau States.

    It is common knowledge that Nigeria through the EFCC has consistently returned huge sums of money recovered from local criminal elements convicted by Nigerian courts for swindling foreigners including European and Americans. Sometime in November 2005, the EFCC returned US $17 million to a Brazilian bank – the first instalment of $242 million siphoned by a group of Nigerian scammers to William Richey, a lawyer representing the defunct Banco Noroeste of Sao Paolo, Brazil. On that occasion, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu said that “By making this restitution to the victim of the scam we also want to send a strong, unequivocal message that we will no longer harbour such fraudulently acquired funds no matter where the victim is.” The return of the huge fund was based on the orders of forfeiture made by Olubunmi Oyewole J. (now JCA). But out of sheer colonial mentality, some lawyers are asking the Nigerian people to clap for the British Government for returning £4.2 million out of Ibori loot of over £100 million warehoused illegally in the United Kingdom in defiance of the money laundering laws of that country. It is interesting to note that many Nigerian lawyers are not aware that banks and other financial institutions in the United Kingdom have recently been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars as damages for aiding and abetting corrupt public officials and drug barons who live in foreign countries.

    Finally, no doubt, the former Delta State Government was irresponsible to have denied that Chief Ibori looted the treasury of the State at the material time. But such denial cannot be a justification for the confiscation of the Ibori loot of over £100 million that is expected to be repatriated to Nigeria by the British Government. After all, before his assumption of office as President in May 2015, General Mohammadu Buhari had repeatedly maintained that the late General Sani Abacha did not steal a dime from the account of the Federal Government. But the Federal Government under the President’s watch has continued to recover the remaining Abacha loot and no one has suggested that such recovered loot be paid to the account of the United Nations or African Union on moral grounds.

    Femi Falana SAN,
    Interim Chair,
    Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB)

  • Femi Falana: I didn’t buy N6bn Abuja property for N1bn from EFCC

    Femi Falana: I didn’t buy N6bn Abuja property for N1bn from EFCC

    A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), says contrary to a report making the rounds, he has never bought any property from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In a communique on Friday, Falana said the claims by the online medium that ran the report are false, adding that the publication was a ploy by the Federal Government to tarnish his reputation.

    According to the rights advocate, the claim that he bought a property from the antigraft agency is one of several attempts by the government to soil his name and bring him to disrepute.

    Falana’s statement comes on the heels of a testimony by a witness, Mr. Ngozika Ihuoma who told the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, that a property allegedly recovered by the Pension Reform Task Force, valued at six billion naira was sold to Mr. Falana for one billion naira sometime in 2015.

    Reacting, the rights advocate said the property in question was never recovered by the presidential pension task force and that it is on record that the property was used as collateral by the owner, A. Group properties limited, with regards to a loan from Bank PHB in 2008.

    He said when the owner of the property defaulted in the payment of the loan it was taken over by the Asset Management of Nigeria (AMCON) via an order of interim forfeiture.

    Falana further explained that in an attempt to liquidate the loan the owner of the property wanted to sell it and his law firm agreed to buy the property two hundred and fifty million naira, but they withdrew from the transaction due to the delay in resolving the case.

    He noted that up till now, the case is still pending at the Federal High Court.

    The human rights activist challenged the Federal Government to proceed to forfeit the alleged one billion naira purportedly paid by him and recover the property if it established that it was recovered by the pension task force.

    Below is the full narrative as published by the Senior Advocate.

    “Sometime in April 2017 an online medium, sponsored by the Federal Government, claimed falsely that the had handed over a property confiscated from a former governor of Bayelsa State, the Late Chief D.S.P Alamieyesigha to me.

    The malicious publication was dismissed when it was revealed that all confiscated properties from the ex-governor had been handed over to the Bayelsa State Government by the EFCC.

    In November 2017, the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN alleged that the EFCC had sold one of the houses recovered by Mr. Abdurasheed Maina of the Pension Task Force to “a Lagos Lawyer”.

    Even though Mr. Malami SAN did not mention my name I challenged him to provide details of the property. But the challenge was not taken up.

    When the stories of the illegal acquisition of properties did not fly the Federal Government alleged before the Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Enquiry that the suspended Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu had transferred N28.5 million to the Account of my law firm.

    A newspaper that linked me with the false story retracted the story and apologized when I threatened to sue for libel The Panel did not invite me to give evidence as the story was found to be a LIE.

    My attention has just been drawn to the renewed version of the LIE to the effect that the same property lying and being at 42, Gana Street, Maitama District, Abuja, allegedly recovered by the Pension Reform Task Force was valued at N6,0000,000.00 (Six Billion Naira) but sold to me for N1,000,000.00 (One Billion. Naira) sometime in 2015.

    I wish to say, without any fear of contradiction, that the property in question was never recovered by the Presidential Pension Task Force.

    It is on record that the property was used as a collateral by the owner, A. Group Properties Limited a loan from Bank PHB in 2008. When the owner of the property defaulted in the payment of the loan it was taken over by the Asset Management of Nigeria (AMCON) via an order of interim forfeiture.

    However, in an attempt to liquidate the loan the owner of the property wanted to sell it. My law firm agreed to buy the property for N250,000,000 (Two hundred and Fifty Million Naira). But we withdrew from the transaction due to the delay in resolving the case. Up till now, the case is still pending at the Federal High Court.

    A copy of the order of interim forfeiture of the property granted in favour of AMCON is hereby attached.

    In the light of the foregoing, I challenged the Federal Government to proceed to forfeit the alleged N1 billion purportedly paid by me and recover the property if it established that it was recovered by the Pension Task Force.”

  • Yakassai: Buhari, El-Rufai, Tinubu, other APC bigwigs once asked Jonathan to resign without arrest, intimidation – Falana

    Yakassai: Buhari, El-Rufai, Tinubu, other APC bigwigs once asked Jonathan to resign without arrest, intimidation – Falana

    Popular human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) on Sunday condemned the arrest of Salihu Yakasai, former special adviser on Media to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The legal luminary said it is no crime for any citizen to call for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the DSS operatives confirmed arresting Yakasai shortly after criticizing President Buhari on Twitter.

    Reacting to the arrest, Falana condemned the action of the Department of State Services stating that there is no justification for the arrest and detention of Yakassai.

    In a statement titled, ‘Asking Buhari to Resign is Not An Offence’, the rights activist noted that many politicians and activists have continued to call for Buhari resignation due to the deteriorating security situation across the country.

    He further argued that in the past those who called for the resignation of former presidents did not get intimidated nor arrested.

    “It is on record that the APC and its leaders including General Mohammadu Buhari; National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu; Malam Nasir El-rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly called for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014. Yet they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression at the material time. Since the call for President Buhari’s resignation is likely to continue to be made by other concerned individuals and groups over the virtual collapse of the security architecture.”

    Falana demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Tanko-Yankassai from illegal custody.

    He however noted that if the State Security Service has evidence that the “political detainee” has committed any criminal offence known to the law, then he should be transferred to the police for proper investigation and possible prosecution.

    Below is the right advocate’s full statement regarding Salihu Yakasai’s arrest.

    On Friday, February 27, 2021, Mr. Salisu Tanko-Yankassai, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state called on President Mohammadu Buhari to either guarantee the security of the Nigerian people or resign from office. Even though Mr. Tanko-Yankassai was legitimately exercising his freedom of expression enshrined in section 39 of the Constitution he was sacked by Governor Ganduje and arrested by the State Security Service. ASCAB has confirmed that Mr. Tanko- Yankassai is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention facility.

    Having regard to the fact that civil rights advocates, retired military officers, and political party leaders including chieftains of the All Progressive Congress have repeatedly asked President Buhari to call it quits due to the worsening insecurity in the country there is no justification whatsoever for the arrest and detention of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai. In both Chambers of the national assembly there have been strident calls by legislators for President Buhari’s resignation or impeachment on the ground that criminal gangs have taken over the monopoly of violence in the country. Since such concerned citizens were never arrested the ongoing harassment of Mr. Tanko- Yankassai is high handed, discriminatory and illegal.

    It is on record that the APC and its leaders including General Mohammadu Buhari; National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu; Malam Nasir El-rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly called for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s resignation between 2013 and 2014. Yet they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression at the material time. Since the call for President Buhari’s resignation is likely to continue to be made by other concerned individuals and groups over the virtual collapse of the security architecture of the neocolonial State it is pertinent to draw the attention of the State Security Service to the case of Arthur Nwankwo v The State 1985 6 NCLR 228 where the Court of Appeal charged the Nigerian people to engage in relentless criticism of democratically elected governments. In particular, Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed memory) had this to say:

    “The decision of the founding fathers of the present Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech which must include freedom to criticise should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided by the constitution must be resisted. Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism in respect of their office so as to ensure that they are accountable to the people. They should not be made to feel that they live in an ivory tower and therefore belong to a different class. They must develop thick skins and where possible, plug their ears with wool if they feel too sensitive or irascible.”

    In view of the foregoing, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yankassai from illegal custody. However, if the State Security Service has evidence that the political detainee has committed any criminal offence known to law he should be transferred to the Police for proper investigation and possible prosecution without any delay.

    Femi Falana SAN,
    Interim Chair,
    Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB)

  • Arrest of Ganduje’s ex-aide: Buhari wasn’t arrested when he demanded Jonathan’s resignation – Falana

    Arrest of Ganduje’s ex-aide: Buhari wasn’t arrested when he demanded Jonathan’s resignation – Falana

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, (SAN) has kicked condemned the arrest and detention of former Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Tanko Yakasai.

    Salihu was arrested and subsequently sacked after he called for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation over insecurity.

    In a statement on Sunday, Falana said Salihu is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention facility for merely exercising his freedom of expression enshrined in Section 39 of the Constitution,1999.

    Falana recalled that between 2013 and 2014, leaders of the APC, including Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign.

    He said they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression at the material time.

    The senior lawyer, who is the Interim Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), wondered why Salihu would be arrested after many civil society, chieftains of the APC and both chambers of the National Assembly have called for Buhari’s resignation or impeachment over insecurity.

    “The decision of the founding fathers of the present Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech, which must include freedom to criticise, should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided by the constitution must be resisted,” he said.

    “Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism in respect of their office so as to ensure that they are accountable to the people. They should not be made to feel that they live in an ivory tower and therefore belong to a different class. They must develop thick skins and where possible, plug their ears with wool if they feel too sensitive or irascible.

    “In view of the foregoing, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yankasai from illegal custody. However, if the State Security Service has evidence that the political detainee has committed any criminal offence known to law he should be transferred to the Police for proper investigation and possible prosecution without any delay.”

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed that the former aide of Kano governor is in its custody.

  • Buhari can’t single-handedly appoint Service Chiefs – Falana

    Buhari can’t single-handedly appoint Service Chiefs – Falana

    Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of new Service Chiefs following the resignation of the former officers.

    In a statement personally signed by him on Wednesday, Mr Falana quoted a 2013 judgment which described the appointments of Service Chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly as illegal and unconstitutional.

    Consequently, he said the Service Chiefs have only been nominated but not appointed.

    “Yesterday, President Buhari was reported to have appointed new service chiefs for the armed forces.

    “Upon a critical review of the law on the subject matter the members of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAP) have found that the appointments remain inchoate as President Muhammadu Buhari has not forwarded the names of the proposed service chiefs to the National Assembly for approval in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Armed Forces Act.

    “The appointments of service chiefs without the concurrence of the National Assembly which had been the practice since 1999 was challenged in the Federal High Court sometime in 2008 by Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN (the current Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity) in the case of Keyamo v President Goodluck Jonathan (unreported Suit No FHC/ABJ/ CS/611/2008).

    “In his landmark judgment delivered on July 2, 2013, Adamu Bello J. (as he then was) held that it was illegal and unconstitutional, null and void for the President to single-handedly appoint Service Chiefs without the approval of the National Assembly having regards to the combined effect of Section 218 of the Constitution and section 18 (1) & (3) of the Armed Forces Act..,” the statement read.

    “Because it was acknowledged that the judgment was sound and unimpeachable the Federal Government did not challenge any aspect of it at the Court of Appeal.

    “To that extent, the judgment is binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria in accordance with the provisions of section 287of the Constitution”.

    Falana and ASCAB, therefore, called on President Buhari to forward the names of the proposed Service Chiefs to both houses of the National Assembly for confirmation, stating that a failure to do so, means that the said appointments are liable to be set aside on the basis of the valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court.

  • Uganda poll: Falana intervenes, drags Museveni to UN over Bobi Wine’s detention

    Uganda poll: Falana intervenes, drags Museveni to UN over Bobi Wine’s detention

    Popular human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has filed a complaint at the United Nations against Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, for illegally detaining his main opponent in the recently concluded Presidential election, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

    Falana said in a statement on Tuesday that Bobi Wine had been denied access to his lawyers in a bid to prevent him from filing a petition against the declaration of Museveni as the winner of the highly flawed Presidential election.

    “We have submitted a complaint against the government of Uganda to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concerning the detention of the detained couple,” Falana said.

     

    The complaint by Falana, which was attached to the statement, read in part, “Mr. Wine and his wife are being illegally detained for days without any criminal charges preferred against him. He has also been denied adequate supply of food by hundreds of Uganda military forces and policemen who have laid siege to his house for the umpteenth time since the election day.

    “I am therefore seeking an opinion from the Working Group finding the house arrest and continuing detention of Mr. Wine and his wife to be arbitrary and in violation of Uganda’s Constitution of 1995 (as amended) and obligations under international human rights law including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Uganda is a state party.”

  • Falana condemns El-Rufai over demolition of nude party venue

    Falana condemns El-Rufai over demolition of nude party venue

    Human rights advocate, Femi Falana (SAN), says Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State flouted Section 79 of the Kaduna State Urban and Regional Planning Law, 2018, which he personally signed when his government demolished Asher Lounge, the venue of the aborted sex party.

    Falana noted that El-Rufai’s government flouted several sections of the legislation.

    The senior advocate said that there was nowhere the law mandated the government or its agencies to pull down a building without prior notice or giving room for fair hearing.

    He said, “The law which was signed by El-Rufai in 2018 does not allow for demolition without a notice. Section 79 of the law is clear. No governor has the right to authorise a demolition of the property of anyone.

    “The governor cannot be the accuser, the prosecutor, the judge and the executor the judgment. All the states in Nigeria have similar laws, whether in Rivers or Lagos. None has the power to pull down the property of any citizen who has not been given the opportunity of making a representation.

    “No one is in support of sex parties taking place in the country but anyone found wanting should be arrested and prosecuted according to the law. They should have prosecuted those accused of committing the offence and not pulled down the building”, he told Punch.

  • Falana to sue police, over arrest, torture of Sowore

    Falana to sue police, over arrest, torture of Sowore

    Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has said the Publisher, Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore has asked him to sue the Nigerian Police for torturing and violating his fundamental human right.

    Sowore was arrested along with his friends for leading a “crossover protest” in Abuja.

    He accused Nigerian police of violating his human right. In view of that he instructed his lawyer, ‘Falana’ to sue the Police. Confirming this, Falana in a text message to the media, said: “Since Mr. Sowore’s fundamental right to dignity has been recklessly violated by the police we have his instructions to press for charges against all the officers who subjected him to physical and mental torture in contravention of the letter and spirit of the provisions of the Anti Torture Act of 2017.

    “Mr. Sowore who was covering an event at the time of his arrest has maintained that he did not breach any of the COVID-19 regulations. He has been detained indefinitely on the basis of orders “from above.

    “The police officers who arrested Mr. Omoyele Sowore at Abuja on January 31, 2020, subjected him to severe beating and left him with bruises all over his body. As if that was not enough he has been locked up in the midst of armed robbery suspects at a notorious detention facility called abattoir maintained by the disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad in Abuja. “The physical torture to Mr. Sowore was prolonged by the refusal of the police to provide him with medical attention.

    Although Mr. Sowore’s injuries are being treated by his personal physician, the police authorities have refused the application of the detainee for bail even though the alleged offence of breaching COVID-19 regulations is ‘bailable’.

  • Living in their children’s shadow? – Francis Ewherido

    Living in their children’s shadow? – Francis Ewherido

    By Francis Ewherido

    The first time I saw it on social media, I recoiled. A young writer was describing the great Chief Femi Falana and all he could say was Falana is the father of Falz. Chief Falana is, of course, the father of Falz (Folarin Falana), but before Falz became a sensation, there was Femi Falana. As at 1990, when Falz was born, Femi Falana was already a well-known human rights activist with older human rights activists like his late former boss, Alao Aka-Bashorun, Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, amongst others. They were constant thorns in the flesh of the military government. Falana contributed greatly to the enthronement of democratic rule in 1999. He remains active till date. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he has hit the zenith of the legal profession. Yet the young writer could not introduce him based on his achievements; he tagged him “father of Falz” to show that Falana is an important person. Of Multi-billionaire, Dr. Deji Adeleke, one young writer’s headline says: “Dr. Deji Adeleke (Davido’s father).”

    I also read another story, where Femi Otedola was introduced as the father of DJ Cuppy. In this case, I did not recoil; rather I laughed. What goes around comes around. When I came to Lagos in the 80s. Sir Michael Otedola, the father of Femi Otedola, was well known. In 1992, he was elected the governor of Lagos State. He stayed till 1993 when Gen. Sani Abacha’s coup ended his reign. Fast forward to year 2000 and beyond, Femi Otedola came on the scene and I started reading, “Sir Michael Otedola, father of Femi Otedola.” So, if the media introduce Femi Otedola as the father of DJ Cuppy, he is only being served a healthy dose of his own medicine – a medicine every (successful) parent would love to drink, though.

    I will not refer to Femi Falana as the father of Falz, Dr. Deji Aleleke as father of Davido and Femi Otedola as the father of DJ Cuppy in the headlines or first paragraphs of a write-up. These men have made their marks and should be introduced based on their accomplishments. “Father of this or that” appendages will only come in the later paragraphs. This is without prejudice to what their children have achieved. They have achieved so much at an age when many of their contemporaries are still trying to find their feet. Many of their mates – some of them graduates – are still being housed, fed and clothed by their parents.

    Some people say that successful young men and women from privileged backgrounds made it because of their family background, but I disagree. They knew what they wanted at an early stage; they had dreams and pursued them; they found their purpose early and committed themselves to living it; they had talents and skills and honed them. If you ascribe their success to only their illustrious background what about Wizkid and other grass to grace stories? What about other young people from rich and privileged backgrounds, who are wasting away in lives debauchery, drug addiction, alcoholism, aimlessness and purposeless?

    Climbing out of poverty and anonymity to prominence, especially in Nigeria, can be very tough, no doubt, but we all live and operate in this difficult environment. My experience in life is that making excuses is very unhelpful. I work with some youths and I am tracking their progress. My experience so far is that those who are driven by purpose, who know what they want, are making better progress than those who fall and go for anything. Our lives need to be purpose-driven. You can start off with any legitimate job that comes your way, but what are your plans for the future? Many youths have no medium or long term plans. You better start thinking about your future even in the midst of difficulties. Introspect and discover the wonderful talents and skills God has deposited in you. Even while you are doing “anything” for a living, hone those innate skills. Your chance will come and only people, who are prepared, take chances. Do not dig your talents in the ground like that foolish and wicked servant in the bible; use them, even if pro bono, for now like the two wise servants (25: 14-25). Set your goals – short-term, medium-term and long-term – and let your sight be fixed permanently on them.

    Read biographies of people, who have succeeded in your area of interest. The biographies are online, in newspaper articles and in books. Is it entertainment, publishing, fashion, entrepreneurship, manufacturing? They are all there. Some of these people were in a similar situation you are now at some points in their lives. Some of them are still very much around and might be willing to provide mentorship if you approach them. But you must know the rules guiding mentor-mentee relationships and abide by them.

    I see too much of blame game among young people. Everything and everyone around them have contributed to their predicament. They are the only party without a fault. How? With those character flaws, lack of self-development and absence of clarity of what you want? Common, success and greatness come from within and only manifest without. Go and fulfil your own part of the bargain first, the external lines will fall into the right places someday.

    Back to successful silver-spoon kids, their privileged background certainly quickened their journey to fame, wealth and stardom, but they also worked hard. I can never diminish the success these youngsters have achieved. Some youngsters from privileged backgrounds just want to live off the family wealth and name; they have no interest in adding more value to the family name. In 1985 at Nsukka, I was introduced to the nephew of a prominent politician and political office holder in the Second Republic. I introduced myself as “Francis,” but he introduced himself with his family name. I thought as youngsters we should call ourselves by our first name, but he was just cool with his family name and hung on to it as if it was a ticket to heaven.

    But look at these successful silver-spoon kids. Falz abandoned Falana and simply went with the stage name, Falz. Florence Otedola is DJ Cuppy. David Adedeji Adeleke is simply Davido. No clinging to their famous surnames, some of which go way back. DJ Cuppy’s grandfather, Sir Michael Otedola, was a former Lagos State Governor, while Davido’s grandfather, Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke, was a Second Republic senator. They forsook these door-opening names and took on stage names.

    But our young writers should study some history. Headlining Femi Otedola as DJ Cuppy’s father, Femi Falana as Falz’s father and “Dr. Deji Adeleke (Davido’s Father),” diminishes what these men have achieved. But this “misnomer” has crept into Wikipedia. Femi Falana’s biography in Wikipedia is just 98 words, but Falz’s is 1018 words. May be, younger writers also wrote them (Lol), but who cares? Femi Falana is Falz’s father after all. My prayers for all parents is that our children should reach much greater heights than us; may they achieve successes that we could not even have envisioned.